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Downsizing? 10 Tips for a Smoother Move

There comes in a time in life where a person’s attitude shifts from upscaling to downsizing. If you are trying to get rid of some of your belongings because you are downsizing, sorting through everything can be a daunting task. Likely, most of the “stuff” that you have in your home is chock-full of memories and emotions, which can make getting rid of those items a little more difficult. If you are moving and don’t have space for your belongings in your new home, having a sorting plan to move is the best way to find the "must-keeps” and get rid of all the other stuff. Try these ten tips to an unencumbered new life and home 1. Consider the floor plan of your new home Before you start to sift through your furniture and big items, have a floor plan layout of your new home in mind. If you have the dimensions of the space that you are moving to, you can think more realistically about what can come with you and what has to be left behind. You are going to have limits in your new house, so make sure that you are realistic about what will fit and what will create chaos so you can prioritize before you get there. If you bring it all with you and try to sort it once you’ve moved into your new place, then you are just paying an additional moving cost. 2. Shed the clutter Instead of packing and thinking about it later, consider the packing process your greatest reducer. Think carefully about whether you really need something or not before you pack it up. It might be a good idea to have someone help who help you see past your sentimentality and make you think twice before you wrap up your items to go. 3. Start in the vacant areas You are downsizing because you don’t need or want all the space that you currently have. There are bound to be whole rooms or areas that haven’t been walked in for some time. It is best to pack first in the rooms that have been vacant since that is probably where you can shed the most baggage. 4. Design a sorting system Make sure to carefully label what goes where. You will want to have a donate, sell, and keep pile available (along with a trash can). Knowing which is which is key to making sure you don’t take things you don’t want, and more importantly, that you don’t leave things that you do want to keep. Staying organized shouldn't require any complicated technology or expensive systems, just common sense and diligence. 5. Sift through big items first You will want to sift through the big items first. Since space is going to be limited, making the bigger items that you really want to keep the priority will be key to figuring out how many small things you can take along. Plus, once you’ve gotten rid of some big items you don’t want, you have more space to organize and pack. 6. Pack in segments A sure-fire way to get emotionally drained and overwhelmed is to wait until the last day. Try to block a little bit of time off every day to allocate to packing and sorting. If you start fresh and end without exhaustion, you will make better judgements. 7. Focus on one area of the house Try not to be scattered too much and go from one end of the house to the next. Focus your daily attention to different parts of the house and finish those before you move on to the next area. If you keep your belongings separately grouped, you will have an easier time figuring out what you do and don’t need. 8. Let someone else take care of it You have paid your dues and it is time to sit back and let someone else do the work for you. Let a professional moving company take care of the heavy boxes and the light stuff, too. Focus on making decisions about what to bring and allow the senior moving services to do their job. 9. Take out those things that you will need When you are packing, be mindful of what you are going to need right away. Put everyday items like sheets, kitchen utensils, and other essentials like clothing aside and tag them. That way you will know how to find them when you get to your new home without having to go through box after box or even waste money buying new items because you can't find the ones you own! 10. Be kind to yourself Moving is a very emotional thing. Be patient and kind to yourself. Packing doesn’t have to be done in a day, and if you aren’t sure if you want to bring something or leave it, leave it with someone else and then decide if you want to get it back later. If you don’t, have them get rid of it! Some decisions might just have to wait. If you are ready to move onto the next chapter in your life, do so less cluttered and encumbered.I hope you enjoyed this article about how to downsize your property holdings when it's time to get lean.Interested in more articles about real estate management?Read My Posts:- How To Boost Your Real Estate Investment Returns- Why You Need Comprehensive Property Insurance